ONE wealthy Australian has placed an order for the most expensive car in the world – the Aston Martin One-77 – which could cost $4 million by the time it arrives here in 2010. It will be one of only 77 examples being built by the British company, which last week finally revealed official photographs of the car it describes as “perfection”. > Full Story
Commemorating the landmark 1968 Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt” – especially the famous car chase scene – the 2008 Bullitt Mustang is more than just another special-edition-of-the-week Mustang that we’ve become accustomed to from Ford. This one boasts a little more power, better handling and possibly the best exterior enhancement of any current-generation Mustang that we’ve seen, high-performance Shelby models included. Yet performance has never been the Mustang’s problem. It’s the lack of refinement, and the Bullitt’s cheap plastic interior and lack of sophistication is even less acceptable at this model’s $34,700 as-tested price tag than it is at the standard GT’s $28,000.
What We Drove
Technically, the Bullitt is a $27,765 Mustang GT (including the $745 destination charge) with a $3,310 option package added. The appearance package is most obvious, with the car stripped of most of its badges and available in black or in our tester’s Highland Green, the same color as McQueen’s movie car. The package also includes a handful of engine enhancements and suspension tweaks, delivering at least a little on the exterior’s promise. Our test car included Ford’s $1,995 navigation system, a $325 anti-theft system, $525 high-intensity headlights and an ambient lighting system and iPod integration (but not Sync) for $295 apiece.
In addition to the green paint and lack of badges, the 2008 Bullitt Mustang adds Ford Racing’s exhaust and cold-air intake to the Bullitt Mustang’s 4.6-liter V-8. The resulting 315 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft of torque is 15 hp and 5 lb.-ft. more than the GT. The Bullitt also gets a recalibrated throttle for crisper response; retuned cams for better high-end power, higher redline and a meatier torque curve; a shorter final-drive ratio for quicker launches; and a solid-shifting five-speed manual transmission. Shocks and struts are unique to the Bullitt, as are the rear springs, which lower the car an almost imperceptible 6 mm.
Performance
Ford claims the Ford Racing engine enhancements’ beefier torque curve and shorter final drive make for harder launches and a better top end. While we didn’t have a standard Mustang GT to compare it against, the Bullitt has no problem pulling hard from a dead stop with a glorious V-8 roar, and we noticed no letup in power deliver as the engine approached redline. The five-speed shifter is solid, maybe a little too stiff, but with a smooth and progressive clutch. It’s the kind of powertrain that brings out your inner delinquent, and it’s hard to resist the urge to turn rubber to smoke at every opportunity.
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Toyota will finally get back into the sportscar business with a sub-$50K rear-drive coupe being developed in conjunction with Subaru. The successor to Celica will be styled by Toyota and built on a new Impreza-ased platform, driving only the rear wheels and powered by a Subaru flat-four engine.> Full Story
Hyundai Australia hopes to import a hybrid car that runs on LPG, based on the current Elantra. The hybrid system differs to the Prius in that it does not run on electric power alone at low speeds. Power is by a 67kW/126Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a 12kW/95Nm electric motor.> Full Story
General Motors has confirmed the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car will be sold in Australia. The vehicle known as a “Prius-buster” will be introduced in the US in 2010, with Australian sales one or two years later. The Volt will be a four-passenger vehicle using a lithium-ion battery pack.> full story
Ford Australia will produce the next-generation Focus for the Asia-Pacific region and South Africa from 2011, with a capacity of 40,000 units. Production will employ a significant amount of local components, including panels stamped in Geelong, but all engines will be imported.> Full Story
Mitsubishi used Frankfurt to highlight its Concept-ZT model, which could replace the Mitsubishi 380 – whether or not the company decides to keep building passenger cars in Australia. With obvious Audi influences, the ZT also has the looks of a longer, sleeker version of the MkIV Lancer sedan.> Full Story
Land Rover will release a limited-edition Defender SVX model in the fourth quarter of 2008, commemorating the British 4WD brand’s 60th anniversary this year. Australia will take the 110 Station Wagon only, featuring unique seats, wheels, graphics, colour and minor frontal styling changes.>full story
Audi 2008 RS6 Audi's 426kW/650Nm twin-turbocharged direct-injection V10 RS6 wagon is expected in local showrooms in late 2008. Originally borrowed from Lamborghini's Gallardo for the S8 and S6 sedans, the force-fed V10 is Audi's answer to the M5's atmo V10.> Full Story